The Zombie Who Forgot How to Float

Lily loved swimming more than anything in the world. Every summer day, she'd rush to the sparkling blue lake, her messy red **hair** flying behind her like a fiery comet.

One morning, something peculiar floated near the dock. It was green and bumpy and looked very confused.

"Hello?" Lily called out.

The green thing paddled closer. It had kind eyes and a friendly smile. "I'm Barnaby," it said. "I think I might be a **zombie**, but I'm not entirely sure. I just woke up in the lake."

Lily's golden retriever, Max, paddled over to investigate. His wet **dog** fur smelled like lake water and sunshine. Max sniffed Barnaby's hand and immediately gave it a happy lick.

"Max likes you," Lily said. "That means you're good. What are you doing in the lake?"

Barnaby sighed. "I don't know how I got here. But the worst part is—I keep sinking instead of **swimming**. Zombies are supposed to be scary, but I'm just having trouble staying above water."

Lily laughed. "That's not a zombie problem! That's a floating problem. Here, let me teach you."

All morning, Lily taught Barnaby how to float on his back like a starfish, how to kick his feet to move forward, and how to blow bubbles underwater. Max chased dragonflies along the shore, occasionally barking encouragement.

By lunchtime, Barnaby was **swimming** circles around the dock!

"I'm not a zombie at all," Barnaby realized. "I'm just a person who needed to learn how to float. Thank you, Lily! And thank you, Max!"

Lily grinned. "Everyone needs help sometimes. Even zombies. Even me. Especially when I was learning to swim, my grandpa had to hold my hand the whole time."

Barnaby touched his messy green **hair**. "Friends make everything easier."

From that day on, whenever Lily went **swimming**, Barnaby was there. And Max always dove in right beside them, three friends splashing under the sun, proving that kindness works better than fear, and that anyone—anyone at all—can learn to float if someone's willing to teach them.